Fly swatter



M. W. GATCH FLY SWATTEH Filed July 20, 1926 Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STTES FEE.

MILTON W. GATCH, @F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO GA'ICI-I BRUSH & WIRE GOODS 00., A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

FLY SWATTER.

Application filed July 20,

This invention relates to improvements in fly swatters. Fly swatters are commonly made with shanks composed of wire, the wire being doubled upon itself and twisted to form the shank. As the wire shank is dil'licult to grasp in the hand, it is customary to apply handles of wood, or other material, to the ends of the shanks; but these handles frequently pull off of the wires. Llso, it is desirable to have on the swatter a hook or loop by which the swatter' can be hung on a nail or like support, and this need is supplied by screwing a hook or loop into the outer end of the handle. My improvement consists in extending one of the wire strands of the shank entirely through the handle and bending the end of this strand into the form of a loop, the other strand terminating within the handle. This not only effects economy in manufacture, but the loop being integral with one of the strands of the shank prevents the handle from pulling off of the shank, thus obviating one of the annoyances experienced with swatters of the kind above referred to.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a swattcr embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section through the handle; and,

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the handle on the line 22 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, (1 represents the shank of the swatter, this shank being composed of a piece of wire of suitable length bent in its central portion to form a triangular head, to which is secured a sheet 2 of flexible material for striking the flies. The shank comprises the two wire strands 3 and 4-, twisted together adjacent the head, as shown at 5, and the strand 8 being considerably longer than the strand 4:.

1926. Serial No. 123,681.

A handle Z), of wood, or other suitable material, has a central longitudinal bore 6, this bore being large enough at one end to receive both of the strands, as shown in Fig. 2, and being of smaller diameter toward the opposite end of the handle. The strand e terminates within the handle, as shown, while the strand 3 extends entirely through the to handle and has at its outer end a loop 7, which serves as a means for preventing the handle from coming off of the shank, and also as a means whereby the swatter may be hung on a nail or hook. It will be evident that the handle will be securely held in position on the shank, the loop 7 preventing movement of the handle in one direction and the end of the wire l preventing movement in the opposite direction. In addition to the advantage resulting to the user of the device from the construction described, there is also a considerable saving in the cost of manufacture by reason of having the loop and shank made in one continuous piece.

What I claim is:

A fly swatter comprising a wire bent in its central portion to form a head and doubled upon itself to form a shank, one strand of said shank being longer than the other, a handle having an opening extending through it, the shorter one of said strands extending only part way through said opening and the longer strand extending through the opening and having its outer end bent to form a loop, and a flexible sheet attached to said head.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliiX my signature.

MILTON WV. GATCH. 

